1954: U.S. overthrows democratically-elected President Arbenz of Guatemala.
200,000 civilians killed.

On June 27, 1954, the CIA's $2.7 million Operation Sherwood culminated in the resignation of Guatemala's President Arbenz. Arbenz was elected in 1950 to continue, as the CIA put it, "an intensely nationalistic program of progress colored by the touchy, anti-foreign inferiority complex of the 'Banana Republic.'" Among other social reforms, Arbenz nationalized the American-based United Fruit Company. Both Secretary of State John Foster Dulles and his brother CIA director Allen Dulles were heavily invested in UF. With Dwight Eisenhower's approval and the help of Nicaraguan dictator Anastacio Somoza, the CIA succeeded in replacing Arbenz with Guatemalan military general Castillo Armas. This was the beginning of more than four decades of tyrannical military rulers in Guatemala, all closely tied to the United States government. In all, more than 200,000 Guatemalans have been killed or have "disappeared." Forensic scientists are still discovering mass graves.

From the National Security Archive:

The CIA's assassination proposals, 1952-54.

The CIA's list of people to assassinate, with their names conveniently edited out.

A CIA commissioned overview of the coup, written in 1994.

The dossier on the Guatemalan death squads.

The murder of Bishop Juan Jose Gerardi.

Overview and documents on the Guatemalan Military.

Search the CIA reading room of declassified documents here. Search for Arbenz AND Guatemala.

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